New Zealand Grebe

Poliocephalus rufopectus - Grèbe de Nouvelle-Zélande

Systematics

Order
:
Podicipediformes
Family
:
Podicipédidés
Genus
:
Poliocephalus
Species
:
rufopectus

Descriptor

Gray, GR, 1843

Biometrics

Size
: 30 cm
Wingspan
: -
Weight
: 232 à 271 g

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

The New Zealand Grebe is a small waterbird that resembles the Black-necked Grebe or Slavonian Grebe. Its neck is thin and reddish-brown. Its head is small and its bill appears slightly upturned. Its overall appearance is dark and without much contrast. In breeding plumage the head is gray and the body is brown. In immature or non-breeding plumage it is entirely brown. When in flight or preening its wings, which are easily visible, are white (coverts) and black (remiges).

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

Grèbe de Nouvelle-Zélande,
Zampullín maorí,
mergulhão-neozelandês,
Maoritaucher,
maori vöcsök,
Nieuw-Zeelandse Fuut,
Svasso di Nuova Zelanda,
maoridopping,
Maoridykker,
potápka maorská,
potápka novozélandská,
Newzealandsk Lappedykker,
uudenseelanninuikku,
cabussó de Nova Zelanda,
perkoz maoryski,
Новозеландская поганка,
ニュージーランドカイツブリ,
新西兰䴙䴘,
紐西蘭鸊鷈,

Habitat

The New Zealand Grebe prefers shallow and sheltered waters such as dune reservoirs or small bays and backwaters of large lakes. However, it has colonized artificial reservoirs in agricultural regions. It can also be found, in winter, in lagoon sewage treatment plants. The presence of reeds is not necessary.

Behaviour character trait

The individuals we observed in New Zealand did not seem very shy. As with most small grebes, this species often dives.

These dives can be done either abruptly, with the bird making a small hop forward to plunge, or calmly, gradually submerging itself. In case of danger, it calmly moves away swimming either on the surface or underneath the water. If the danger is more substantial, it quickly flees, running on the surface of the water with the help of its wings.
The species seems to be sedentary.

Flight

It does not appear to fly willingly. When it does, it barely rises above the water.

Dietfeeding habits

The New Zealand Grebe mainly consumes aquatic invertebrates, mostly insects and their larvae. It sometimes catches freshwater fish or crustaceans.

Reproduction nesting

The breeding season extends from June to March. The nest, a floating mass of aquatic plants, is located near the shore and attached to vegetation. It is frequently destroyed by waves during strong winds (common in this country) or submerged by rising water.

Geographic range

Threats - protection

IUCN conservation status

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Once widespread on the fresh waters of the two main islands of the country, the New Zealand Grebe has disappeared from the South Island in the 1940s. The population of this endemic species is now no more than around 1800 individuals. Couples nesting on the edges of large lakes have a low reproduction success, which could likely be explained by the numerous disturbances it suffers due to the development of all kinds of water leisure activities. Poor weather conditions also cause the loss of many nests. The success is better in small, duney lakes and agricultural reservoirs. Predation also plays a significant role, with the main predators being introduced rats and MustelidÃ©s. The recent (but natural) installation of the Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) may be a new threat. The species is now classified as vulnerable by BirdLife International, while it was still considered 'endangered' a few years ago. This repositioning is due to the fact that the population seems to have stabilized and viable populations (several hundred couples) exist in some large lakes.

Illustration

Access to all images

Sources of information

IOC World Bird List (v14.1), Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2024-04-18.

Other sources of interest